Veterans: We're Supporting Manzur To Stop Failed Foreign Policy

By Douglas Whitbeck, Bjorn Lange, Don Rankin, and David DeTour, NH Journal

We are military veterans, and we are endorsing Karishma Manzur for U.S. Senate.

We are military veterans. We served our country with honor because we believed democracy was worth defending. Today, we are united in endorsing Karishma Manzur for the U.S. Senate. She is fighting to restore a democratic government that works for the people, not for wealthy donors and special interests.

Too many politicians from both parties rely on corporate PACs, lobbyists, and billionaire-funded groups instead of listening to working families. Big money in politics has weakened public trust, fueled corruption, and allowed elected officials to profit from the industries they are supposed to regulate rather than the people who elect them.

People in New Hampshire are struggling to afford housing, health care and groceries. In the richest country in the world, that should not be happening. But too many lawmakers answer to wealthy donors instead of working families.

Karishma is running to change that.

She supports overturning Citizens United, banning corporate PACs, strengthening ethics laws, increasing transparency in campaign donations and banning stock trading by members of Congress. She also supports stronger restrictions on former members of Congress becoming lobbyists after leaving office.

Karishma’s campaign is inspired by New Hampshire’s own Granny D, who walked across America at the age of 89 to demand fair elections and accountable government. That fight is far from over.

What we admire about Karishma is that she is not offering hollow words about reform; she is actively fighting to get big money out of New Hampshire politics.

As veterans, we also understand the human cost of failed foreign policy. For too long, American troops have been sent into endless wars without meaningful congressional oversight. Since 9/11, thousands of U.S. service members have died, millions of veterans have returned home with trauma or disabilities, and trillions of taxpayer dollars have been spent on military conflicts that left deep scars at home and across the world. This is unpatriotic.

Karishma believes America must lead with strength, wisdom, diplomacy and accountability. She will work to end the endless wars and stop war profiteering. She supports restoring Congress’s constitutional role in authorizing military action, cracking down on war profiteering and banning members of Congress from owning stock in weapons manufacturers.

Our troops, veterans and working families deserve more than political slogans. They deserve leaders who will fight corruption, protect democracy and put people ahead of powerful interests.

We are proud to endorse Karishma Manzur for U.S. Senate because she has the courage to challenge corruption, reject politics controlled by wealthy interests and fight for the people of New Hampshire.

We served to protect our country. Now we are fighting for a government worthy of the people it serves.

True to Our Oath to the Constitution,

• Douglas Whitbeck from Mason, NH: U.S. Army, 1967-1969, SP5
• Bjorn Lange from Concord, NH: U.S. Army, 1969-1972, O-3
• Don Rankin from Wilton, NH: U.S. Army, 1969-1973, SP5
• David DeTour from Weare, NH: U.S. Navy, 1974-1978, BU3

This story was originally published by the NH Journal, an online news publication dedicated to providing fair, unbiased reporting on, and analysis of, political news of interest to New Hampshire. For more stories from the NH Journal, visit NHJournal.com.